A friend to theater: Lee’s Summit woman served in many stage rolls since childhood

After spending close to 60 years in theater education and community theater, Betsy Sexton has had a front-row seat for many industry changes as well as the positive impact of live performances.

The Lee’s Summit resident has worked for several community theater organizations over the past four decades, serving as director and stage manager, as well as handling props.

She also spent 47 years teaching high-school speech, theater and forensics on both sides of the state line, working full time at the Hickman Mills School District for 30 years, then teaching and coaching forensics part-time — first at Rockhurst High School and then Blue Valley North High School.

Sexton’s involvement in speech and theater began during her childhood and included both theater and forensic competitions in high school.

“My mother was a speech, theater and drama teacher and debate coach,” Sexton shared, “and she was also my teacher in high school for speech and forensics.”

Performing has been part of her life since childhood. “I don’t know how many shows I have worked on since my stage debut at age 4,” Sexton said.

Throughout her teaching career, she saw many students benefit from the arts. “The kids get so much more confidence just by performing,” she said.

In 1981, Sexton volunteered for her first community theater production. Since then, she has been involved in plays for organizations such as the Barn Players, Bell Road Barn, Olathe Civic Center, Chestnut Fine Arts, Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park and Summit Theatre Group.

She had planned to work for Summit Theatre Group’s spring 2022 play but was sidelined by a fall.

“My days behind the scenes are pretty much over,” she said, adding that she remains an enthusiastic audience member, attending seven plays just within the past few weeks.

One of the most meaningful aspects of working in community theater is watching a show come together, she said.

“I get a kick out of watching the shows develop,” Sexton added, “from the cast reading the show for the first time. Then I watch as it evolves over five to six weeks and I almost never cease to be amazed at how the process works.”

Becca Stabno, president of Summit Theatre Group, met Sexton several years ago when Sexton was directing “The Women of Lockerbie.” Stabno was among the performers.

“Betsy’s thoughtful direction of the sobering play gave it so much meaning and brought out the hope that still lives amidst tragedy,” Stabno said.

Sexton asked Stabno to join the organization’s board in 2019.

“Betsy is a warm, caring person who puts everything she has into the productions she works on, whether it’s as director, stage manager or props manager,” Stabno added. “I have a lot of respect for the work she has done over the years.”

Sexton has frequently witnessed how a performance can influence audience members. One of the first shows Sexton directed for Summit Theatre Group was “A Piece of My Heart,” a play about women serving in Vietnam. Practices were held at the Lee’s Summit VFW Hall, and the VFW members were occasionally asked for advice related to aspects of the war. Several of these same VFW members attended the performance.

After the show, wives of the veterans said they heard their husbands talk about Vietnam for the first time following the live performance.

“I learned a lot about Vietnam in that show,” Sexton said. “There’s never something I don’t learn during a show.”

Over the years, Sexton has seen significant changes in the theater productions, especially in sound and lighting.

When she first began working in theater, the backstage crew had to haul out the ladders to make lighting changes with modifications now easily accomplished via computer. Other changes include wearable microphones as well as the selection of plays, which include more contemporary productions along with the classics.

Sexton encourages others to get involved in community theater, adding that the organizations always need on-stage and back-stage volunteers.

“I have met some of my closest friends in theater,” she said.